Spring Skin Tips
Spring is a feel-good time of year – not only does the Springtime make us feel better in general, but it can also be more pleasant for eczema sufferers too with the temperatures being favourable – not too hot, not too cold.
However, spring brings flowers and a massive increase in pollen and other allergens. This increase in environmental irritants is not great for anyone already struggling with the health of their skin, making the transition period from winter into spring another common time for eczema flare-ups.
Eczema suffers will know all too well that the itch is very real. From the moment you wake up in the morning to putting out the lights at night, it’s a constant struggle to fight the urge to itch your inflammation away.
When you’re affected by flora and fauna, the eczema reaction is, unfortunately, often accompanied by allergic rhinitis (hay fever) – runny noses, watery eyes and itch skin, a very unpleasant combination.
If you’ve noticed any new changes to your skin, such as dry, itchy, cracked, or inflamed patches or rashes, it’s important to reach out to your doctor and/or dermatologist.
Here are some tips for managing eczema in the Spring:
- Drink plenty of water and keep up your fluids. This helps keep the body’s core temperature from rising and replenishes the moisture levels
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise and make sure you have plenty of your favourite on hand, fragrance free if possible even when you aren’t experiencing your eczema symptoms
- Talk to your doctor or dermatologist when necessary and renew your treatment to manage itchiness, by reducing the inflammation of the skin you can lower your chances of getting a secondary infection that can be caused by scratching
- Talk to your pharmacist for advice on anti-histamines if you are a hay fever sufferer, antihistamines can also be useful for helping reduce the effects of itchy skin
- Consider taking a daily probiotic – these can help boost your immune system to fight off infection caused by scratching
- Change your products – if you have been using an ointment for moisturising during the winter you may now find you are heating up too much – look at changing to a cream or lotion and apply to your skin more often
- Review your skin routine – make sure your cleansing products and shampoo are suitable for sensitive skin – it may be time to try something different
- Distraction is key, especially when you’re trying to control children scratching their skin
- Be mindful of open windows to reduce exposure to allergens carried by wind and dust, consider keeping your car windows up whilst driving
- When you have been out and about in the environment, particularly parks and gardens, have a quick rinse off back at home and reapply your moisturiser
- Try an ioniser/ air purifier to remove allergens such as pollen and spores from the air, particularly in your bedroom but also other rooms where a lot of time is spent
- Review your bedding, take off some of the layers you had on for winter – eczema sufferers can do most of their scratching at night, so this might also be a great time to invest in some dust mite protective bedding to reduce contact with dust mite droppings
- Spring is typically picnic season, and that means lots of time outside. Sitting directly on sand or grass can really irritate your skin, so make sure you have a cotton blanket or rug with you on these occasions
- Avoid long, hot showers, take shorter showers reducing the heat, or warm baths and avoid non sensitive shampoo products running over the body as much as possible when washing hair
- Wear cotton gloves (mittens for babies) to bed to reduce the effect of scratching on the skin
- Wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth every day – this will pick up the dust and pollen that has settled
- Use both a moisturiser and a sunscreen of at least 30+ SPF on any skin that will be exposed when you go outside
- Wash clothes in a laundry detergent that is specifically designed for sensitive skin that does not contain chemical fillers and additives and consider adding laundry sanitiser to kill germs
- Most important of all – don’t panic when you experience a flare, a good eczema management plan can make a big difference.
The information in this article was obtained from
The National Eczema Society
Healthline
Scratch Sleeves
Comvita
limmerdermatology
This Information Sheet is provided as a service by the Eczema Association of New Zealand to give up-to-date, practical help on certain types of eczema or a particular aspect of its treatment. These Sheets are part of our membership package.
It is not the policy of the Eczema Association of New Zealand to recommend or endorse any product or treatment. It is part of the role of the Association to provide information on a wide range of products and treatments to keep those involved with eczema as fully informed as possible as to all options available. For medical advice, consult your health professional.